A WilcoHess Travel Plaza off Interstate 95 at Exit 5 is beginning to take shape after about a year since plans were approved by the city of Hardeeville.

The proposed 12,000-square-foot travel plaza includes a Subway, Dairy Queen and a Hess store. The project could be finished by June.

The plaza will bring 60 new jobs, half of which will be full-time positions. Paying $70,000 per year in property taxes and $147,000 in business license fees, the plaza will impact the economy of the city.

J.H. Hiers Construction of Walterboro was hired in December to undertake the project. Owner Jeff Hiers said Tuesday there will be six to 10 people from his company involved with construction.

Miller said they have received the demolition permits and it could take two days before the site is cleared.

Two existing buildings on the property include a Citgo gas station and a 24,000-square-foot abandoned building.

“We’re meeting with the owners the week of Feb. 21 and construction will probably begin that week,” Miller said. “We’re hoping to finish by some time in June if the weather permits.”

Based on traffic counts at other WilcoHess locations, there could be 350 cars and 145 trucks per day stopping at the plaza in Hardeeville. The plaza will offer overnight parking for trucks, despite city ordinances prohibiting parking elsewhere.

Justin Patel, owner of Days Inn, the Sleep Inn and the Gulf gas station, continues to have concerns about noise from the trucks.

“Until they open and 40 trucks are parked outside, I am still worried. We won’t know until the action is in place,” Patel said.

Patel said it would only bring little revenue in if truckers decide to stay in his nearby hotel.

The WilcoHess Travel Plaza project went before City Council in December 2011 by Bob Weaver of Weaver Engineering. A decision to rezone the property as highway commercial was passed by council in January 2012.

“WilcoHess will be an anchor for Exit 5 and I hope with that, we’re going to have more expansion,” Councilman Sal Arzillo said. “It’s a big project, bringing in a quarter of million tax revenue for the city.”

The WilcoHess Travel Plaza in Hardeeville will add to the eight other plazas in South Carolina.